Fitting for a sanitary installation

ABSTRACT

A fitting for a sanitary installation having a control unit and at least one sanitary element controllable with the control unit where the fitting having at least one vibration detector for detecting ambient vibrations, and at least one vibration detector is connected to the control unit via a data channel, and the settings of the at least one sanitary element being changeable based on the ambient vibrations.

The present invention relates to a fitting for a sanitary installation, in particular with adjustable sanitary elements.

PRIOR ART

Fittings with infrared sensors, capacitive sensors or temperature sensors are known from the prior art, in which the sensor signal is used to control a sanitary element, such as a tap or a toilet flush. This type of sensor can only be used to a limited extent. For example, in the case of an infrared sensor, the beam path between the source and the sensor must be interrupted in order to be able to generate a corresponding signal, as a result of which the arrangement of the sensor, e.g. in the case of a tap, must be located directly at the outlet. Capacitive sensors are temperature sensitive, which leads to different signals at different temperatures in the same situation. By definition, temperature sensors are temperature sensitive. In addition, these sensors can only monitor a small area, i.e. they can only be used very locally.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fitting for a sanitary installation which is insensitive to temperature and with which larger areas can be monitored.

This object is achieved by a fitting with the features of claim 1. Further embodiments of the fitting, a fitting arrangement, and a method for changing a setting of a sanitary element of a fitting according to the invention are defined by the features of further claims.

A fitting according to the invention for a sanitary installation comprises a control unit and at least one sanitary element which can be controlled by the control unit. The fitting comprises at least one vibration detector for detecting ambient vibrations, the at least one vibration detector being connected to the control unit via a data channel, the settings of the at least one sanitary element being changeable on the basis of the ambient vibrations. Vibration detectors are robust detectors that work reliably and have a low susceptibility to interference. Such detectors can detect sound and convert it into an electrical signal. Structure-borne sound or sound that has been transmitted through the air can be detected.

In one embodiment, the at least one vibration detector is a piezoelectric detector or a strain gauge. These detectors are commercially available and are accordingly readily available and inexpensive.

In one embodiment, the fitting comprises two, three or more sanitary elements. It is possible to detect several different vibrations with one detector and to evaluate them with a control unit. This allows the control of several sanitary elements. For example, a detector can detect that a user wants to change the settings of a particular sanitary element.

In one embodiment, at least one supply line is connected before the at least one sanitary element and at least one discharge line after the at least one sanitary element. This allows a flexible combination of the lines with the sanitary elements. For example, several supply lines can each comprise a sanitary element and the respective discharge lines open into a common discharge line. The respective sanitary elements can be controlled separately or simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the fitting comprises two, three or more vibration detectors. With several detectors, more complex vibrations can be recorded and evaluated. It is possible to recognize that a user not only wants a simple on/off of a sanitary element, but that he desires a discreet or continuous change in a setting of the sanitary element. Such a change in the settings of the sanitary element can be initiated with the control unit.

In one embodiment, the at least one vibration detector is arranged on the at least one line and/or on the at least one sanitary element, or the at least one vibration detector is arranged at a distance from the at least one line and/or from the at least one sanitary element. Both variants have their advantages. If the vibration detector is arranged on the line or on the sanitary element, the detector can pick up the body vibrations which are transmitted through the line or through the sanitary element. The structure-borne sound is only weakly damped during transmission. If the detector is arranged at a distance from the lines and/or the sanitary elements, less space is required in the area of the lines or sanitary elements. This is advantageous in tight spaces.

In one embodiment, the sanitary element can be selected from the group comprising a valve, a pump and a fan. A valve can be, for example, a valve for liquids, such as water, disinfectant liquid or soap, or one for gas, such as air. Pipes for cold water, hot water, boiling water, mineral water or other drinks, each with its own valve, can be provided, each valve being able to be opened or closed by the control unit. It is also possible to further open a valve that is already slightly open or to close it a little more. It is also possible that a valve can be opened triggered by a user and the control unit automatically closes the valve automatically after a predetermined time. Different times can be stored in the control unit for different media. If the sanitary element is a pump, a liquid can be actively pumped out of a container. These can be drinks, disinfectants or soaps, for example, filled into containers. The activation of the pump is initiated by a user. The deactivation can also be user-specific, or it can be carried out by the control unit. The same applies to the case when the sanitary element is a fan or a ventilator. Instead of a liquid, a gas, such as air, is pumped. It is also possible to activate a heating unit with the fan at the same time, which means that warm air can be generated. The combination of several or all elements of the above group is also possible.

In one embodiment, the control unit and the vibration detector are designed in such a way that they can detect the presence of a user in a predetermined area of the environment and, as a result, can change the settings of a specific sanitary element. For example, the settings of a first sanitary element are changed when it is recognized that a user is in a first area and the settings of a second or third sanitary element are changed when a user is registered in a second or third area.

The mentioned embodiments of the fitting can be used in any combination, provided that they do not contradict each other.

A fitting arrangement according to the invention comprises a sanitary installation and a previously described fitting, the vibration detector being arranged at a distance from the sanitary installation. With this design, the vibration detector is independent of the sanitary installation, which allows the use of different sanitary installations with the fitting.

In one embodiment, the sanitary installation can be selected, for example, from the group comprising wash basin, shower, bathtub, soap dispenser, lotion dispenser, disinfectant dispenser, hand dryer, hairdryer, toilet and urinal.

In one embodiment, the fitting arrangement further comprises a sound generator, which is arranged at a distance from the fitting. For example, the sound generator is a cracked frog or another device which is able to emit a predetermined characteristic acoustic signal. Two, three or more sound generators can also be provided, which can emit different acoustic signals.

A method according to the invention for changing a setting of a sanitary element of a fitting described above comprises the steps:

-   -   Detection of ambient vibrations with the at least one vibration         detector;     -   Generating a vibration signal with the at least one vibration         detector;     -   Transmission of the vibration signal to the control unit with         the data channel; and     -   Changing the setting of the sanitary element by the control unit         on the basis of the transmitted vibration signal.

In one embodiment, changing the settings can be selected from the group comprising fully and partially opening and closing a valve, switching-on or -off of a pump or fan, and increasing and decreasing the volume flow of the medium delivered by the valve, the pump or the fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. These are for explanation only and should not be interpreted restrictively. It shows

FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a fitting according to the invention with a vibration detector spaced from the discharge line.

FIG. 2 a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 1 with two controllable sanitary elements and a common discharge line.

FIG. 3 a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 2 with a further controllable sanitary element and a further discharge line and vibration detectors arranged on the discharge lines; and

FIG. 4 a schematic front view of another fitting with three discharge lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a fitting according to the invention with a vibration detector 3 spaced from the discharge line 6. The fitting comprises a control unit 1, a controllable sanitary element 2, a vibration detector 3, a data channel 4, wherein the control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected with the sanitary element 2 and the vibration detector 3, for example by a data channel 4, with which electrical signals can be transmitted. The data channel 4 can be implemented with a cable or wirelessly. The components of the fitting can be supplied with electrical energy by a power source, not shown. For example, by a power connection or a battery. The vibration detector 3 can detect ambient vibrations 5, convert them into electrical signals and transmit them to the control unit 1 for evaluation. The settings of the sanitary element 2 can be changed on the basis of the evaluated signals. A fluid, such as, for example, a liquid or a gas, can be supplied to the sanitary element 2 through a supply line 5 and can be removed therefrom through a discharge line 6.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 1 with two controllable sanitary elements 2 and a common discharge line 6. In each case, one supply line 5 leads to one of the sanitary elements 2. For example, the two lines are a cold water line and a hot water line. The two lines adjoining the sanitary element on the discharge side are brought together in a common discharge line 6. The mixing temperature and the flow rate of the water in the drain line can be set by adjusting the two sanitary elements. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected to each of the two sanitary elements 2.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 2 with a further controllable sanitary element 21 and a further discharge line 60 and vibration detectors 3, 30 arranged on the discharge lines. In contrast to the fitting of FIG. 2, the vibration detector 3 is arranged directly on the discharge line 6. Cold water and hot water can be supplied to the respective valve 20 through the supply lines 5. The two lines from the two valves 20 are brought together to form a discharge line 6. Soap, for example, can be fed to a pump 21 via a further supply line 50 and can be discharged from it with a further discharge line 60. Another vibration detector 30 is arranged on the further discharge line 60. However, the further vibration detector 30 can also be arranged at a distance from the further discharge line 60. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected with all sanitary elements, i.e. the two valves 20 and the pump 21. The vibration detectors 3, 30 are also electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 through data channels 4, 40. If the evaluation of the signals received by the control unit 1 shows that a user is in the area of the first discharge line, the control unit changes the settings of the valves accordingly. If a user is in the area of the second or further discharge line, this can be determined by the control unit and the settings of the pump 21 can be changed accordingly. For example, the pumping of a predetermined amount of soap or disinfectant can be initiated.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of another fitting with three discharge lines 6, 60, 61. For example, the middle discharge line 6 is a water spout, the left discharge line 60 is a soap or disinfectant dispenser and the right discharge line 61 a hand dryer. In the embodiment shown, a vibration detector 3 is provided, which can detect in which areas A, B, C in front of the fitting there is a user or the hands of a user. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors can be provided, which can recognize, individually or in combination, in which area a user's hand is located. The detector or detectors 3 are again electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 by means of a data channel 4, which is electrically operatively connected to the corresponding sanitary elements (not shown).

REFERENCE SIGN LIST 1 Control unit 2 Sanitary element 20 Valve 21 Pump 22 Fan 3 Vibration detector 30 Vibration detector 4 Data channel 40 Data channel 5 Supply line 50 Supply line 6 Discharge line 60 Discharge line 61 Discharge line 7 Instruction element A Area B Area C Area S Vibration 

1. A fitting for a sanitary installation comprising a control unit (1) and at least one sanitary element (2) controllable with the control unit (1), characterized in that the fitting comprises at least one vibration detector (3) for detecting ambient vibrations (S), wherein the at least one a vibration detector (3) is connected to the control unit (1) via a data channel (4), wherein the settings of the at least one sanitary element (2) being changeable on the basis of the ambient vibrations (S).
 2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is a piezoelectric detector or a strain gauge.
 3. The fitting according to claim 1, comprising two, three or more sanitary elements (2).
 4. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least one supply line (5) is connected before the at least one sanitary element (2) and at least one discharge line (6) is connected after the at least one sanitary element (2).
 5. The fitting according to claim 1, comprising two, three or more vibration detectors (3).
 6. The fitting according to claim 4, wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged on the at least one line (5, 6) and/or on the at least one sanitary element (2) or wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged spaced apart from the at least one line (5, 6) and/or the at least one sanitary element (2).
 7. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary element (2) can be selected from the group comprising valve (20), pump (21) and fan (22).
 8. The fitting according to claim 7, wherein the sanitary element (2) is designed for use with gas or liquid.
 9. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (1) and the vibration detector (3) are designed in such a way that they can detect the presence of a user in a predetermined area (A, B, C) of the environment and, based on this, can change the settings of a specific sanitary element (2).
 10. A fitting arrangement comprising a sanitary installation and a fitting according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detector (3) is arranged at a distance from the sanitary installation.
 11. The fitting arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sanitary installation can be selected from the group comprising wash basin, shower, bathtub, soap dispenser, lotion dispenser, hand dryer, hair dryer, toilet and urinal.
 12. The fitting arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising a sound generator which is arranged at a distance from the fitting.
 13. A method for changing a setting of a sanitary element (2) of a fitting according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: detecting ambient vibrations (S) with the at least one vibration detector (3); generating a vibration signal with the at least one vibration detector (3); transmitting the vibration signal to the control unit (1) with the data channel (4); and changing the setting of the sanitary element (2) by the control unit based on the transmitted vibration signal.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the settings can be selected from the group comprising fully and partially opening and closing a valve, turning a pump or fan on and off, and increasing and decreasing the volume flow of the medium delivered by the pump or fan. 